Stem tendrils are a climbing adaptation; which plant is a common example?

Stem tendrils are a climbing adaptation; which plant is a common example?

• A. Cucumber
• B. Pumpkin
• C. Watermelon
• D. Jasmine

Answer: (A)

Stem tendrils are slender, coiling offshoots that come from the stem and grip around supports to help the plant climb. Cucumber shows this clearly: its vines grow long and produce thin tendrils at the nodes that wrap around a trellis or stake, allowing the plant to climb upward rather than sprawl. This makes cucumber a classic example of stem tendrils as a climbing adaptation. Jasmine climbs by twisting its main stem around a support rather than using separate tendrils, so it isn’t illustrating stem tendrils in the same way. Pumpkins and watermelons also climb, but their habit is driven more by the stem twisting around supports, with tendrils playing a less central role.

Stem tendrils are slender, coiling offshoots that come from the stem and grip around supports to help the plant climb. Cucumber shows this clearly: its vines grow long and produce thin tendrils at the nodes that wrap around a trellis or stake, allowing the plant to climb upward rather than sprawl. This makes cucumber a classic example of stem tendrils as a climbing adaptation. Jasmine climbs by twisting its main stem around a support rather than using separate tendrils, so it isn’t illustrating stem tendrils in the same way. Pumpkins and watermelons also climb, but their habit is driven more by the stem twisting around supports, with tendrils playing a less central role.